ON THIS DATE (August 18, 1932)
... A swirl of dust and a savage slide in the
15th inning, spelled a 7 to 6 victory for the Red Sox over the St.
Louis Browns at Fenway. It was utility outfielder, George Stumpf, who
created the excitement, as he slid home with the winning run on Hal
Rhyne's fly to Fred Schulte, the Browns leftfielder.
But before that, the Sox and the Browns staged one of the greatest
battles seen at the old ball yard. The Browns scored right off the
bat. In the first inning after two singles, an error by Marv Olson,
allowed a run to score. Olson got that run back in the third, inning
when he singled home Bennie Tate from second.
The Sox went out front in the fifth inning. Tom Oliver singled to
start and Rabbit Warstler attempted to move him up with a sac bunt.
But Rick Ferrell's throw to second sailed into centerfield and Oliver
sprinted around third and scored the Sox second run.
Bob Kline held the lead until the ninth inning. With two outs, Jack
Burns doubled to left, knocking out Kline in favor of Bob Weiland.
Bruce Campbell greeted him with a single to center, to tie the game
again.
Jim Levey was the first batter to face Weiland in the 11th inning for
St. Louis and he hoisted a fly ball over the left field wall, to give
the Browns a 3-2 lead. Very quickly in the bottom of the inning,
Marty McManus, who managed, coached, played third base and did
everything except sell some peanuts in the stands, flew a ball over
the left field fence also, to tie the game again, at three each.
Move to the top of the 14th inning, and the Browns jumped way out in
front by scoring three runs. Jack Burns got an infield hit and stole
second. Johnny Welch was now given the ball and he got Schulte to pop
up. But Ferrell followed with a run-scoring single and Ski Melillo
brought him home with a double to left-center. Warstler threw the
ball into the grandstand on the play and Melillo walked in with the
third run, 6-3.
The home boys, aided and abetted by Levey, who made a pair of glaring
errors, came back again with three runs of their own and again the
score was tied at six to six. Oliver and Johnny Watwood cracked out
singles. Bennie Tate's grounder to second erased Watwood but Oliver
scored. Welch singled behind second and Levey threw the ball past
Burns at first. Tate ended up on third base and he and Welch scored
the tying runs when Levey again threw away on an easy grounder by
Marv Olson.
To atone for his sins, Levey opened the 15th with a triple to center
that bounced off Tom Oliver's hip. Bump Hadley popped up and Deb
Garms smacked one to Dale Alexander at first, who threw to Tate at
home, catching Levey in a run-down. Welch walked Burns but got
Campbell to pop up for the third out and ending the trouble.
With one out in the 15th, George Stumpf lined a conspicuous triple to
left-center. Dale Alexander and Tom Oliver were both passed
intentionally to load the bases, in fond hope that a doubleplay could
be turned, but Rhyne lofted a fly ball out to left and Stumpf raced
for the plate.
